Focus On Energy Management, Not Time Management

Time management is something we talk about constantly as leaders.

But the reality is… time isn’t something we can actually manage.

It keeps moving, regardless of what we do.

In this episode of The Leaders Kitbag, I explore a more effective and sustainable approach – shifting our focus away from managing time and towards managing our energy and attention.

Because when we’re constantly juggling competing priorities, trying to keep everything in the air, something will eventually drop.

And more often than not, it drops at the exact moment our energy is at its lowest.

Drawing on insights from tools like Strengthscope, I explain why understanding what energises and drains you is critical to performing and leading at your best.

Your strengths aren’t just what you’re good at; they’re the activities that give you energy.

And when we ignore that, we create what I call the double-drain effect -tackling energy-draining tasks at the point in the day when we’re already fatigued.

The result?

Lower performance, more mistakes, and work that feels far harder than it needs to.

Instead, I share two simple but powerful questions that can transform how you structure your day, your week, and ultimately your leadership impact.

Because leadership isn’t about doing more.

It’s about being deliberate with where and how you invest your energy.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why time management is a flawed concept for leaders.
• The difference between managing time and managing energy.
• How your strengths are directly linked to what energises you.
• What the double-drain effect is and how it impacts performance.
• Two simple questions to help you align your work with your energy.

Ben’s Key Takeaway

We can’t manage time, but we can absolutely manage our energy, focus and attention.

And that’s where the real opportunity lies.

When we understand when we’re at our best, and what gives us energy, we can start to make far better decisions about how we structure our days.

That means aligning our most important work with our natural energy peaks.

It means being more intentional about when we tackle the tasks that drain us.

And ultimately, it means leading and performing in a way that is more effective, more sustainable, and far less exhausting.

Because leadership isn’t about keeping everything in the air.

It’s about being deliberate about where you put your energy.

Want to learn more about how to be a leader?

Enrolment is now open for the cohort of my ‘Leader in Me’ programme.

If you’re ready to:

Build confidence and capability as a leader

Break free from firefighting and become more proactive

Learn how to inspire your team and deliver results…

Register your interest for the programme here.

 

Podcast Transcript

Leadership can sometimes feel like spinning plates… or juggling balls in the air. 

There’s always something that needs your attention. 

And you’re constantly shifting focus, trying to keep things moving. 

But here’s the truth… 

No one can keep everything in motion indefinitely. 

Eventually, something drops. 

 

Because the reality is… 

you can’t actually manage time. 

Time passes regardless of what we do. 

So instead of trying to manage the unmanageable… 

Perhaps the better question is this: 

How well are you managing your focus and your energy? 

 

Now in my work coaching and developing leaders, I often use a tool called Strengthscope. 

And one of the key ideas is this: 

Your strengths are not just the things you’re good at… 

They’re the things that give you energy. 

Things like strategic thinking… building relationships… attention to detail… 

Whatever it might be for you. 

But we all also have areas of non-strength. 

Things we can do… but that we find more draining. 

And here’s what tends to happen. 

We put those draining tasks off. 

We delay them… we avoid them… or we leave them until later in the day. 

And that creates what I think of as a double-drain effect. 

Because we end up doing something that already drains our energy… 

At a point in the day when we’re already tired. 

And that’s when performance drops… 

Mistakes creep in… 

And everything just feels harder than it needs to. 

 

So if you want to lead and perform at your best, there are two simple things to think about. 

The first is this: 

When are your natural energy peaks and troughs? 

Across the day… and across the week. 

When do you tend to feel at your best? 

And when do you feel more fatigued? 

 

The second question is: 

What energises you… and what drains you? 

Which parts of your role play to your strengths? 

And which parts take more out of you? 

 

Because once you’ve got clarity on those two things… 

You can start to plan your time much more effectively. 

You can align your most important work — and your most demanding conversations — with the times when you have the most energy. 

And you can make better decisions about when and how you tackle the things that drain you. 

 

It’s not about keeping everything in the air… 

It’s about being deliberate about where you put your energy. 

 

That’s it for this episode. 

As always, I hope it’s been useful. 

Look after yourself. 

Look after those you’ve got the privilege and responsibility to lead. 

And until next time… 

Lead on.